Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fairer regulation of farming

Steve Barclay: In June 2023, the Government launched a consultation on how hedgerows should be protected in England. The consultation asked for views on the Government’s proposals to maintain protections for hedgerows by bringing management rules into domestic legislation. These rules included maintaining green cover 2 metres from the centre of a hedgerow, prohibiting hedge cutting between March 1 and August 31 and the relevant exemptions related to these rules. The consultation also proposed a suite of civil sanctions that could be used to address non-compliance with the rules as part of a proportionate, supportive regime. Hedgerows are an important part of our countryside and have many important benefits for our wildlife and environment as well as their contribution to the landscape. Although this consultation asked specifically about protecting hedgerows on agricultural land, we also asked where the government should focus its ambitions for future hedgerows policy. Responses to this question showed strong support for extending protections outside of agricultural land as all hedgerows are important havens for wildlife. The government will continue to consider how best to support the sustainable management and protection of hedgerows in different contexts, taking account of the views expressed through this consultation.  We know that our farmers and land managers value our hedgerows. There are now over 90,000km of hedgerows with one or both sides being managed under 16,000 Countryside Stewardship and SFI agreements in England. Through Countryside Stewardship capital grants over 13,000km of hedgerows have been created or restored. We received 8,841 responses to the consultation, which closed in September 2023. We considered all the responses carefully and have today published the government response to the consultation on Gov.uk.There was overwhelming support for hedgerow management measures to come into legislation, and we will now bring forward secondary legislation setting these out as soon as possible to ensure that these important protections are in place quickly. We trust our farmers to look after hedgerows and the new legislation will provide the reassurance that all are following the same management approach. Alongside the continuation of our hedgerow offers in our Environmental Land Management schemes this will underline a commitment to protecting hedgerows and supporting those who look after them. The legislation will maintain the same level of protections as previous cross compliance rules did, but our approach to enforcement of the proposed new regulation will be different, with a focus on being fair and proportionate. We have learned lessons from previous approaches, and believe an advice led approach will result in the best outcomes. We will be talking to farmers and environmental organisations about this, as well as consulting as required in the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008.

Department of Health and Social Care

Suicide Prevention Grant Fund

Maria Caulfield: On 25 August 2023, my Department launched a £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in delivering suicide prevention activity in England. I am pleased to today confirm the 79 successful organisations which have been awarded funding from the scheme. I would like to put on the record my thanks to all those organisations that applied, and for all the suicide prevention activity that is delivered on a daily basis, up and down the country. The list of provisional awardees was published today at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-grant-fund-2023-to-2025 and can be found below. The commitment is part of this Government’s plan to make health and care services faster, simpler and fairer. I look forward to seeing the important and innovative activities that will follow as a result of this funding, in some of the most at-risk regions in England and to the groups who most need it. This is an important milestone in delivering the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: 2023 to 2028 which we published in September 2023 and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028/suicide-prevention-in-england-5-year-cross-sector-strategy. The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector plays a critical role in providing support to people experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a mental health crisis, as well as intervening early to prevent people reaching these points. Ultimately, their work saves countless lives and this grant will help ensure that they can keep doing that. This grant builds on the record sums of money this Government has invested to transform and expand NHS mental health services as well as the successes of a previous grant fund of £5.4 million in 2021/22. That fund supported over 100 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, with overwhelmingly positive results, including helping to address demand after the Covid-19 pandemic, improving access to services for people in need, and helping identify those in need, quicker.  Organisations provisionally awarded fundingOrganisationTotal awardPredominant area of delivery10 Windsor Walk CIC£233,537.62In the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth (psychotherapy) and nationally (film tour)Action on Postpartum Psychosis£123,668.00NationalActive Prospects£105,800.00Mainly in Surrey and West Sussex, but also working with people from Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Brighton & HoveAMAT UK£94,357.00Medway CouncilAspens Charities£150,000.00Kent and SussexBase 51£9,587.00Nottingham and NottinghamshireBeachy Head Chaplaincy Team£245,386.00East Sussex at Beachy Head Coastal CliffsBipolar UK£250,000.00NationalBirmingham Irish Association£45,375.00Birmingham with some national reachBolton Lads and Girls Club£9,936.00Bolton local authorityBradford Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Survivors Service£95,580.00City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Craven Town Council.Brave Futures£22,530.00Suffolk: Babergh District, East Suffolk, Ipswich Borough, Mid Suffolk and West Suffolk. Norfolk: North Norfolk, South Norfolk, Norwich, Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn and West Norfolk.CAMBRIDGESHIRE, PETERBOROUGH AND SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE (CPSL) MIND LTD£176,688.00Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South LincolnshireChapter West Cheshire£9,995.00Cheshire West and ChesterChesterfield Citizens Advice Bureau£99,760.00Chesterfield Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and Bolsover District CouncilCornwall Neighbourhoods for Change Ltd£171,083.32Camborne, Pool , Redruth and St AustellDruglink£135,000.00HertfordshireEmerge Advocacy£126,095.00Surrey, Kent, BerkshireEmpowerment Charity Lancashire£80,000.00BlackpoolEvery Life Matters£64,756.00CumbriaFabrica£9,974.00Brighton & HoveFamily Action£197,794.00BoltonFamily Intervention Counselling Service CIC (FICS)£113,625.00WarwickshireFirst Step, Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland£76,845.00Leicester, Leicestershire and RutlandFootprints Project Limited£5,908.00Regionally across Dorset and Hampshire. Dorset Council, and BCP, Hampshire County council and unity authorities.Home Group£200,000.00Durham and DarlingtonHome-Start Trafford, Salford & Wigan£43,823.77Trafford, Salford and WiganInclusion Hampshire£163,531.00Basingstoke Mencap (Basingstoke and Deane) and Danny's Place Equine Therapy (Winchester, rural Hampshire)Ipsum£96,270.00SwindonIslington Mind£65,939.00Regionally across all Greater London boroughs.James' Place Charity£625,000.00Across North-West England including Merseyside, across North-East England including Tyneside and Wear, and London, including the City of London and Greater London.Jigsaw4u Ltd£68,698.00Regionally - SW London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston and Richmond-upon-Thames.Katie Piper Foundation£263,192.00NationallyKindred Minds£7,069.00Liverpool local authority area with capacity to reach out to neighbouring Merseyside boroughs.Lancashire Mind Limited£119981Regionally within Lancashire with a focus on Chorley, Preston and Lancaster but open to anyone living within LancashireLancaster Men's Hub£9,950.00Regionally. Within the approximate boundaries of Lancaster City Council, LancashireLawn Manor Academy£9,000.00Swindon ( or Wiltshire if extended through the MAT)Lincolnshire Rural Support Network£85,918.00Regionally, primarily in the area covered by Lincolnshire County CouncilListening Place£51,000.00LondonMankind UK£224,830.71Brighton & HoveMental Health Foundation£110,636.00Regional, but based in LondonMental Health Innovations£625,000.00Nationally, but based in LondonMersey Counselling and Therapy Centre£42,657.00Birkenhead and the surrounding area of the Liverpool City Region. LA is Wirral.Merseyside Water Rescue£5,329.00LiverpoolMissing People£199,009.00South East, South West, Midlands, North West & North East; & adding 7 new force areas - Bedfordshire, Humberside, Staffordshire, Kent, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & EssexNafsiyat£79,068.00North LondonNai's House CIO£23,050.00Cherwell and DidcotNational Suicide Prevention Alliance (hosted by Samaritans)£150,000.00NationallyNepacs (North East Prison After Care Society)£332,771.00Regionally in North-eastNo Place Productions£23,602.00Regionally (North West). LAs covered are: Liverpool, Wigan, Flyde, Preston and LancasterNorth Devon Against Domestic Abuse Limited£108,532.00DevonOakleaf Enterprise£8,645.00Guildford and WaverleyPAPYRUS Prevention Of Young Suicide£625,000.00Regionally across the East of England (but with national reach)Penhaligon's Friends£9,400.00CornwallPlace2Be£399,916.00Nationally - South West EnglandRoundabout Ltd£88,184.00SheffieldSafeline Warwick£415,497.00Nationally in England and locally in Warwickshire and CoventrySafeNet Domestic Abuse and Support Services£36,512.50Regionally, throughout Lancashire and parts of Greater Manchester (Bury, Oldham, Rochdale borough councils)Saffron Sheffield Women's Counselling and Therapy Service Limited (Saffron)£38,127.00SheffieldSamaritans£530,000.00NationallySamaritans of Harrogate and District£8,500.00Harrogate as well as Regional/NationallySJOG (St John of God Hospitaller Services)£153,461.00Tees ValleySOUTH WARWICKSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE MIND LTD£116,730.60Warwickshire and Worcestershire County CouncilsST GILES TRUST£194,912.00Leeds Bradford Calderdale Kirklees WakefieldSt Paul's Hostel£1,000.00Worcestershire County Council and surrounding districtsStockport County Community Trust£16,800.00StockportStockton and District Advice and Information Service£108,665.00Regionally- Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-TeesSunflowers Suicide Support£86,948.00regionally in GloucestershireSurvivors Of Bereavement By Suicide£50,434.00NationallyTalk off the Record Youth Counselling Croydon£129,250.00Regionally in London boroughs of Croydon, Merton and SuttonTeens In Crisis (TIC+)£100,054.65GloucestershireThe Russ Devereux Headlight Project CIO£9,950.00Tees Valley combined authority areaThe University of Warwick£8,690.11Coventry/WarwickshireThe Warren of Hull Ltd£123,371.00Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire CouncilUK Men's Sheds Association£143,608.00North of England and East MidlandsWarrington Youth Zone Limited£37,359.00Regionally, across the Borough of WarringtonWe Hear You£90,000.00Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and WiltshireWirral Mind£110,856.00Merseyside, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum Charitable Trust£8,000.00Wolverhampton

Treasury

Advanced manufacturing update

Gareth Davies: Today, the government has announced over £360 million of joint government and industry investment in sixteen UK advanced manufacturing projects, securing highly-skilled jobs, building a stronger economy and cementing the UK as global leaders in industries of the future.This involves a combined industry and government investment of almost £73 million in projects to accelerate the development of zero emission vehicle technology in the UK, almost £200 million in projects to develop energy efficient and zero-carbon aircraft technology and almost £92 million in life science manufacturing projects. The funding awarded is targeted to support the sectors where the UK is or could be world-leading and is designed to unlock investment from the private sector to help grow our economy.The Chancellor is also announcing an up to £120 million increase to the Green Industries Growth Accelerator (GIGA) to support clean energy manufacturing. Around £390 million has been earmarked to expand UK-based supply chains for electricity networks and offshore wind sectors, and around £390 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage and hydrogen sectors. This is alongside the £300 million previously announced for UK production of the fuel required to power high-tech new nuclear reactors, known as HALEU.The GIGA funding will enable the UK to seize growth opportunities through the transition to net zero, building on our world-leading decarbonisation track record. It forms part of the government’s priority to grow the economy focusing on making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future by creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the countryThis follows £4.5 billion announced at Autumn Statement 2023 to increase investment in strategic manufacturing sectors – auto, aero, life sciences and clean energy - across the UK for five years from 2025. This Autumn Statement announcement included £975 million in funding for the aerospace sector, and the government has confirmed this will be allocated to the Aerospace Technology Institute programme.Alongside this, the government is setting out further details of the £50 million apprenticeship growth sector pilot announced at Autumn Statement 2023. The pilot will boost funding for eligible providers delivering 13 high-value advanced manufacturing and engineering, green and life sciences apprenticeships standards, and will explore ways to stimulate training and break down barriers to delivery of high-quality training, with a particular focus on upfront capital investment costs.

Ministry of Justice

Access to Justice update

Alex Chalk: The Government is announcing today that it will introduce legislation in this parliamentary session that will address the impacts of the UK Supreme Court judgment in PACCAR, which concerned a claim against truck manufacturers regarding anti-competitive behaviour.Third-party litigation funding enables people to get funding to bring big and complex claims against bigger, better-resourced corporations, which they could not otherwise afford.The Supreme Court judgment in July 2023 rendered third-party litigation funding agreements unenforceable. Uncertainty around litigation funding risks a detrimental impact on the attractiveness of the England and Wales jurisdiction as a global hub for commercial litigation and arbitration, and on access to justice more broadly.This Bill will enhance access to justice and the attractiveness of a thriving UK legal sector which contributes over £34 billion per annum to the UK economy.The Post Office Horizon scandal has also underlined the importance of third-party litigation funding, as the post-masters’ claim was only possible due to the backing of a litigation funder. This highlights a clear access to justice deficit which, without legislation to mitigate the impacts of the judgment in full, would continue indefinitely.The new legislation, which will apply to all proceedings, will remove this risk and allow Government to deliver a return to a funding regime which promotes access to justice, as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the jurisdiction.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Framework Document

Mr Andrew Mitchell: I wish to inform the House of the completion of the new Framework Document for the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, an arm’s-length-body funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which delivers the Marshall Scholarship programme on our behalf.The Marshall Scholarship programme supports intellectually gifted young Americans to study in the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholars return home at the end of their studies with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the United Kingdom and strengthen the enduring relationship between Britain and the United States of America. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is proud to sponsor the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission to deliver this important scholarship programme.The Framework Document will be in place until March 2025 and governs the relationship between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, setting out roles and responsibilities, and governance and accountability, including financial matters. The Framework Document will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.